Rutherford NJ - Felician University Women's Basketball hosted their first matchup against Dominican University this afternoon. In a matchup that was a test for the Golden Falcons, they held on to the very end, but falling to Dominican 69-47. Here's what happened during today's matchup. 

First Half - In the first half, Felician's Women's Basketball team demonstrated resilience and effort despite facing challenges against Dominican. The team got on the board early, with Ane Valle contributing a jumper in the first quarter, showcasing her offensive aggression and ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities through her multiple rebounds. Valle consistently led the way for Felician, accounting for a significant portion of the team's scoring, including a crucial jumper at the six-minute mark to keep the game competitive. Felician focused on controlling the boards, with players like Katherine Ritchie and Valle grabbing critical defensive rebounds to prevent Dominican from extending their lead further. Despite offensive struggles from beyond the arc, Felician remained aggressive in the paint, creating chances with multiple second-chance efforts. Stephanie Formby also played a key role, adding a layup and a three-pointer toward the end of the second quarter, helping Felician trim Dominican's lead heading into halftime. The team's defensive efforts, led by Valle and Ritchie, kept them in contention, ensuring the score remained close. Heading into the second half, Felician aimed to build on their rebounding success and capitalize on their scoring opportunities to challenge Dominican's momentum.

Second Half - Felician displayed determination in the second half, with notable contributions from several players who worked hard to narrow Dominican's lead. Ane Valle continued to lead the scoring effort, consistently attacking the paint and converting crucial layups. Her persistence and skill contributed significantly to keeping Felician competitive in a challenging matchup. Early in the third quarter, Stephanie Formby connected on a three-pointer, energizing the team and closing the gap slightly. Valle followed up with strong plays, including a layup off an assist from Formby, demonstrating Felician's ability to generate offense through teamwork. Defensively, Valle and Katherine Ritchie were instrumental in controlling the boards, giving Felician second-chance opportunities. In the fourth quarter, Felician maintained their efforts, with Ritchie adding a jump shot and completing a three-point play after drawing a foul. Adriana Perez also contributed a late layup, showing the team's depth and effort to finish strong. Despite their best efforts, Felician struggled to contain Dominican's offense, particularly in the paint, which ultimately widened the margin. The game highlighted Felician's resilience and individual standout performances, particularly from Valle and Ritchie, who led by example with their scoring and defensive hustle.

The Golden Falcons get a few days off but are back at home this upcoming Friday, December 13th when they go up against Lock Haven University at 5:30 PM!